All; most of you may know that I am one of the luger newcomers to the Forum and to the field of luger hunting. Having only been in the game for 6 months.
I want to report an incident that I use to merely demonstrate that this newbie is getting pretty disappointed with this issue of "fake & boosted" lugers.
Here is the story :
On 6-22-02, Dr. Fisher posted (in the Early Lugers section) that he saw an interesting luger at Mike Krause's shop with Mexican makings on the barrel. The luger's serial number was reported in that post.
The only reply post was from Johnny Peppers who recalled previously documenting that same luger (in the past) and stated that the previous sighting of this gun did not say one way or the other whether the barrel had any markings or not.
I gathered this meant no confirmation one way or the other that Mexican markings existing on this luger at the time of the previous citing.
This post ended after only two exchanges.
A day later, I received an unsolicited, "anonymous" post to my private e-mail at home from a Forum member. (My private home e-mail was avaiable to all on the old Forum.)
This anonymous post basically implied that this luger at Mike Krause's shop was "not right" and was just another example of a luger that had been "messed with".
My reply to this anonymous party was :
1. I did not want to continue to receive e-mails from a person who remains anonymous and yet has free reign to make accusations without allowing the accused to know his/her identify and without giving the accused a chance to debate/defend a luger in question.
2. I also replied that I did not see anything the in two posting by Dr. Fisher or Johnny Peppers that supported the allegation that this luger was "not right".
3. In a previous e-mail from this same person, I was told by this person that he/she wished to remain anonymous so he/she could continue to buy "legit" lugers from the same folks he/she accuses of being in the fake & boost business. My reply to this e-mail was I thought this was a bit unethical...having ones cake and eating it to.
I suspect I will not get any more e-mails from this person.
I relay this story just to illustrate how "frightened" this luger newcomer is becoming and how my enthusiasm is beginning to decline.
I appeciate those expert collectors that have taken some of us beginners under their wings to help us stay out of trouble. But I think every luger and every sale needs to be evaluated on its own merits, fairly.
Anonymous accusations just do not show character, in my opinion...
|